The Geek Revolution ✓

07 | gamer

LUKE IS ONE TRICKY BASTARD to shop for.

His terrible twelfth birthday is next week, and from my lack of interest in his general life, I only really know that he likes video games.

I may act hostile towards him, but deep, deep, in the darkest caverns of my heart, I love him. Though I never would have accepted the role of good big sister if I knew it meant spending money on a video game he'll play twice — which is probably how long it'll take him to ace every level and unlock every weapon coded into it — and not touch again.

Hence, I am trying to find the best game I can with a budget for him.

Luckily, Carsonville has a video game store in the town centre, where they also sell music cards and cameras. You know, like a department store for tech geeks. The neon sign should be lit at night, but at quarter to four, it simply reads GameStop next to an outlined video game console in dull wiring.

A rush of cold air-conditioning and the faint smell of plastic meets me when I walk in through automatic sliding doors, creating the sense of sterilisation. I am slightly shocked to see inside set up like a small library, shelves creating a mini-labyrinth with signs pointing to the different areas of the shop.

There is almost no-one here, but the odd person is strolling around. I guess gaming is not a common hobby in Carsonville. If I weren't here for Luke, I probably would never step into this place. Of my own will anyway.

For a few minutes I wander the shop aimlessly, trying to find a reasonably violent game suitable for a child. Yes, that does scream contradiction. It also screams the only things Lucas Olsen looks for in a game. I know that if my present lacks some degree of senseless beating, he'll would probably spit on it and trample it to the ground.

But I know nothing about games, so this might take a while. Candyland, no. Freelance Fluffiness, no way. Dentistry Adventure, not a snowflake's chance in hell.

Most of the games have vague descriptions on the back cover, and even more obscure hints on the front. It's nothing like book-shopping, which is where I find most of my buying skills, and why I catch myself staring puzzledly at most of the games I pick up. Eventually, I find a promising-looking game called Blood Bounty, the only copy on the shelf. The cover has a picture of a Grim Reaper-ish character standing shrouded in shadow, one hand reaching menacingly toward me. I shrug. Alright. What's the worst it could do?

I reach for it at the same time someone else does, from around the corner of the shelf. I turn and see a familiar face. Bus Stop Boy.

The nickname flashes to mind immediately at his curly hair and graphic t-shirts, a look I've definitely gotten used to. A few days after starting Carsonville High School, I noticed that he would sometimes be at the same bus stop Luke and I use. Our commute times didn't always line up, but from before and after school glimpses, I gather that he lives on my street.

He recognises me too, because he smiles and raises his eyebrows in greeting: our default way of communicating. I find myself talking, and register the embarrassment only after I've called him,"Bus Stop Boy."

"Drew," he Mombles, "actually."

"Oh, sorry, I just got into a habit of calling you that," I apologise, looking down at the game in my hand. "My name's Sophie."

"Sophie—" Drew's hands appear in my line of vision. I'm confused why, and then I realise his hands are going straight to the game. "—I know these are pretty crappy first words but, that's my game."

I don't know how to react to this but my awkward silence is soon interrupted.

"Sorry, but I've been waiting so long for this game to come out."